TVTropes Now available in the app store!
Open

Follow TV Tropes

Following

Is America imperalist?

Go To

GameChainsaw The Shadows Devour You. from sunshine and rainbows! Since: Oct, 2010
The Shadows Devour You.
#76: Jan 9th 2011 at 4:43:27 PM

This is just it. Subjugating other nations just isn't in Americas lifeblood. Ruthless capitalistic exploitation, they're maybe capable of. On a bad day. But on the other hand, they have traditions of freedom and national independence for the nations they interact with. "Freedom" is a serious word in America, and not just for Americans.

Does this sound like a country out to bring the world to heel? Are their any Americans who care to contradict me when I say that America and permanently occupying other nations for the purpose of economic exploitation are two ideas which do not go together?

The term "Great Man" is disturbingly interchangeable with "mass murderer" in history books.
Diamonnes In Riastrad from Ulster Since: Nov, 2009
In Riastrad
#77: Jan 9th 2011 at 4:49:44 PM

I'm backing out of this discussion, but I wll leave this last bit of smartassitude:

Imperialism of other countries isn't the topic at hand. I never threw around that any other nation was somehow better despite taking the same actions, quite the opposite.

I also didn't say it was impossible to handle Imperialism in a way that works out for good in the long run. Hell, if this planet is going to survive, we'll require a united government soon. America in the present is a lot better about how it handles foreign affairs, yes, and that's awesome. They still want power, just like every other nation except maybe Switzerland.

[up]Guantanamo Bay. 'Nuff Said.

edited 9th Jan '11 5:23:20 PM by Diamonnes

My name is Cu Chulainn. Beside the raging sea I am left to moan. Sorrow I am, for I brought down my only son.
Deboss I see the Awesomeness. from Awesomeville Texas Since: Aug, 2009
I see the Awesomeness.
#78: Jan 9th 2011 at 4:56:00 PM

Who had the nuke, *when no one else did*?

Anyway, no that's not how you become an Empire.

Hell, if this planet is going to survive, we;ll require a united goernment soon.

Sauce.

edited 9th Jan '11 4:57:17 PM by Deboss

Fight smart, not fair.
Scrye Since: Jan, 2001
#79: Jan 9th 2011 at 4:57:41 PM

^Is a mighty fine place, thank you.

"True story, I came when I read Scrye's story, and so did everyone within five miles." —OOZE
Barkey Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
#80: Jan 9th 2011 at 4:59:34 PM

We need to have a place like Gitmo, either it's there under out supervision, or some rented out eastern european hellhole the CIA uses.

Trust me, Gitmo is better.

Scrye Since: Jan, 2001
#81: Jan 9th 2011 at 5:01:06 PM

Barkey, he's just mad that Gitmo was taken completely by enlisted personnel.

"True story, I came when I read Scrye's story, and so did everyone within five miles." —OOZE
RawPower Jesus as in Revelations from Barcelona Since: Aug, 2009
Jesus as in Revelations
#82: Jan 9th 2011 at 5:18:38 PM

I thought it was getting closed-off?

it's kind of funny, the Yanks deposed commies when it seemed they're just "a bit commie", but democratic, and couldn't get them when they were commie dictators. Is it possible that those deposed just had no time to get worse?

The point wasn't to fight communism, the point was to keep the southern countries subjugated. If you pay attention you will notice how the USA and USSR mostly had an agreement to screw over everyone else for the sake of maintaining their position, by separating them in blocks and having them fight each other. Democratic "not so commie" leaders weren't subservient to either superpower, and worked for the good of their people if only nominally, hence they got the short end of the stick while actual dictators were Karma Houdini.

edited 9th Jan '11 5:21:20 PM by RawPower

'''YOU SEE THIS DOG I'M PETTING? THAT WAS COURAGE WOLF.Cute, isn't he?
Scrye Since: Jan, 2001
#83: Jan 9th 2011 at 5:20:20 PM

I think it was just the prison.

"True story, I came when I read Scrye's story, and so did everyone within five miles." —OOZE
RawPower Jesus as in Revelations from Barcelona Since: Aug, 2009
Jesus as in Revelations
#84: Jan 9th 2011 at 5:21:48 PM

So, apart from the prison, what is Gitmo?

'''YOU SEE THIS DOG I'M PETTING? THAT WAS COURAGE WOLF.Cute, isn't he?
Scrye Since: Jan, 2001
#85: Jan 9th 2011 at 5:23:26 PM

A Navy and Marine Corps base.

"True story, I came when I read Scrye's story, and so did everyone within five miles." —OOZE
wizardbear from Flyover Country USA Since: Jan, 2011
#86: Jan 9th 2011 at 5:25:27 PM

We gave up slaves. It was a long argument, though. But no, we don't take over people and use them for our purposes. Recently? We gave the Canal back, on time, just like we said we would, even though it would have been nice to have, and there's exactly fuck-all anyone could have done about it if we had kept it.

GameChainsaw The Shadows Devour You. from sunshine and rainbows! Since: Oct, 2010
The Shadows Devour You.
#87: Jan 9th 2011 at 5:26:45 PM

The US owned a canal?

EDIT: Actually I retract all that. Which canal?

Further EDIT: Ah.

edited 9th Jan '11 5:28:07 PM by GameChainsaw

The term "Great Man" is disturbingly interchangeable with "mass murderer" in history books.
Scrye Since: Jan, 2001
#88: Jan 9th 2011 at 5:27:09 PM

But dude, you don't understand! We bought Alaska. When will we ever stop!?

^To Panama.

edited 9th Jan '11 5:27:37 PM by Scrye

"True story, I came when I read Scrye's story, and so did everyone within five miles." —OOZE
wizardbear from Flyover Country USA Since: Jan, 2011
#89: Jan 9th 2011 at 5:35:23 PM

We *already* have stopped. At least twice, maybe more. Once at the end of WWII, when we could have made everyone our bitch, and nuked them if they didn't like it. Once when the USSR fell, and we could have said, "Okay now's our chance to make the commies suck it hard", but we didn't. We have a good track record for stopping, and letting up when we could just rock on. Mostly we just want to be left alone, and if the dipshits hadn't 9/11'd us, we wouldn't be over there kicking ass now. Japan got to glow in the dark for Pearl Harbor, you'd think people would take a hint, but noooooo.

RawPower Jesus as in Revelations from Barcelona Since: Aug, 2009
Jesus as in Revelations
#90: Jan 9th 2011 at 5:36:04 PM

So, the prison, it's closing off, but Barkey says we still need it?

'''YOU SEE THIS DOG I'M PETTING? THAT WAS COURAGE WOLF.Cute, isn't he?
Ultrayellow Unchanging Avatar. Since: Dec, 2010
Unchanging Avatar.
#91: Jan 9th 2011 at 5:39:13 PM

Barkey is expressing the completely reasonable view (although I personally disagree) that dismantling the prison is a security risk.

Oh, wait, I didn't want to post here, did I? Whoops.

Except for 4/1/2011. That day lingers in my memory like...metaphor here...I should go.
TuefelHundenIV Night Clerk of the Apocalypse from Doomsday Facility Corner Store. Since: Aug, 2009 Relationship Status: I'd need a PowerPoint presentation
Night Clerk of the Apocalypse
#92: Jan 9th 2011 at 5:40:33 PM

Gitmo is more then just a prison it is also a military base. They are closing the prison but the base remains open.

Who watches the watchmen?
wizardbear from Flyover Country USA Since: Jan, 2011
#93: Jan 9th 2011 at 5:48:15 PM

Yeah, Panama. The US basically went to Panama one day and said, "Even though you are a total n00b, and we could pwn you anytime, we won't. We'll send our dudz and our Top Gear and we'll build the canal, and to pay us back, we'll run it for a while, but then we'll give it back and we'll go back home" And that's what we did, even though the canal would be nice to have, and no one could make us keep the deal. Not very Imperial of us, oops.

edited 9th Jan '11 6:14:55 PM by wizardbear

RawPower Jesus as in Revelations from Barcelona Since: Aug, 2009
Jesus as in Revelations
#94: Jan 9th 2011 at 5:59:15 PM

Except Panama existing was due to Theodore Roosevelt and pals orchestrating its splitting off off Colombia. Obviously the USA wouldn't have had such an easy time imposing their will on the bigger country, so they caused and backed the creation of the state that is nicknamed "the cheapest whore in America". As in, the continent.

Do your research. "America to the Americans" indeed.

'''YOU SEE THIS DOG I'M PETTING? THAT WAS COURAGE WOLF.Cute, isn't he?
DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#95: Jan 9th 2011 at 6:54:56 PM

American may be imperialistic in many ways, but if it is, I think we run a damn decent empire. And I don't think the entire world hates us, or that karma is waiting to smack us in the ass. If you think we're bad, just wait until China takes over, or worse yet, Russia. Or wait until they start World War III. One day people will look back on the American era and wish they had us back.

Or, with luck, none of that will happen, and everyone will develop into first nation status. And our empire will get absorbed. By the rest of you...

edited 9th Jan '11 7:27:12 PM by DeMarquis

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
Scrye Since: Jan, 2001
#96: Jan 9th 2011 at 7:14:37 PM

Except Quebec. Because fuck Quebec.

"True story, I came when I read Scrye's story, and so did everyone within five miles." —OOZE
Kino Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: Californicating
#97: Jan 9th 2011 at 7:21:49 PM

America is an empire? Then we might as well make Guam, Samoa, Puerto Rico and the Virgin islands states already. Hell; take a page out of the Draka handbook and invade Canada and Mexico while we're at it.

wizardbear from Flyover Country USA Since: Jan, 2011
#98: Jan 9th 2011 at 8:23:41 PM

If we're going to be Draka, I'll sign up. I get be the gene-engineered version though.

Kino Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: Californicating
#99: Jan 9th 2011 at 8:25:01 PM

Never heard of them; only know about the WW 2 versions.


Total posts: 219
Top